How to eSign a PDF with Aadhaar (Step by Step, with Screenshots)
Short answer
Upload the PDF on SignYu, add the signer's name, phone and email, and click Send. The signer opens the emailed link, enters their Aadhaar number on the eMudhra page and types the OTP sent to their Aadhaar-linked mobile. The signed PDF is ready to download in about 2 minutes. It costs ₹15 per signature, and you do not need a USB token or DSC.
Table of Contents
Before you start
- The document as a PDF, 10 MB or smaller.
- Signature credits on your SignYu account: 1 credit per signer. See pricing.
- For each signer: their Aadhaar number or VID, and the mobile phone linked to that Aadhaar.
- A document that may be signed electronically. Wills and property sale deeds, for example, cannot be. Check which documents qualify.
How to eSign a PDF with Aadhaar, step by step
- 1
Upload your PDF
Go to signyu.com, click "Click to Upload PDF" and choose your file, then press the upload button. The file must be a PDF of 10 MB or less. If you are not signed in yet, you will be asked to sign up or sign in with Google or your email first.
- 2
Open the document and click Add Signer
After the upload you land on the document page. The PDF preview is on the left and the signer list is on the right. Click "Add Signer".
- 3
Enter the signer's name, phone and email
Type the signer's name, a 10-digit phone number and their email address (1), then click "Add Signer" (2). The signing link is emailed to this address. To sign the PDF yourself, add yourself as the signer. You can add up to 6 signers, and they sign one after another in the order shown.
- 4
Send the document
Check the signer list (drag signers to change the order) and click "Send Document", then "Confirm Send". Sending uses 1 credit per signer, and the document cannot be edited after this.
- 5
The signer opens the link and clicks Sign Document
Each signer gets an email with a signing link. No SignYu account is needed. The link opens the document so they can read it before signing. They click "Sign Document".
- 6
Verify with Aadhaar OTP on the eMudhra page
The signer is taken to the eSign page of eMudhra, a licensed Certifying Authority. They enter their Aadhaar number or VID (1), tick the consent box (2) and click "Send OTP" (3). UIDAI sends a one-time password to the mobile number linked to their Aadhaar. They type the OTP (1) and click "Perform eSign" (2) to apply the signature. SignYu never sees or stores the Aadhaar number.
- 7
Download the signed PDF
After the OTP is verified, the signer returns to SignYu and sees their status as Signed. When every signer has signed, everyone gets an email, and the page shows "Download Signed Document" and "Download Completion Certificate". The signed PDF carries a digital signature you can check in Adobe Reader or with our free verification tool.
Screenshots use a sample document and a demo signer. Personal details on the eMudhra page are blurred.
Common problems
The OTP does not arrive
The OTP goes to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar, not the number entered on SignYu. Wait a minute and request it again, and check that the SIM is active.
The signer did not get the email
Ask them to check spam. You can also copy the signing link from the document page and share it on WhatsApp or SMS.
"[Name] is already signing" message
Signers sign one at a time. If another signer has the document open, wait for them to finish and then reopen your link.
FAQ
Can I eSign a PDF with Aadhaar online for free?
No. Every Aadhaar eSign goes through a licensed provider that charges per signature. On SignYu it costs ₹15 per signature on packs of 10 or more credits, with no subscription. You can buy as few as 2 credits at a slightly higher price per credit.
What do I need to eSign a PDF with Aadhaar?
The PDF (up to 10 MB), your Aadhaar number or VID, and the mobile phone linked to your Aadhaar to receive the OTP. No USB token, DSC or software is needed.
When is the credit used?
One credit per signer is used when you click Send. If the send fails, the credits are returned automatically.
Does the signer need a SignYu account?
No. Signers open the link from their email and sign. Only the person sending the document needs an account.
My Aadhaar is not linked to a mobile number. Can I still sign?
No. The OTP is sent by UIDAI to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. Update your mobile number at an Aadhaar enrolment centre first.
Is a PDF signed with Aadhaar legally valid?
Yes, for documents that the law allows to be signed electronically. Aadhaar eSign is recognised under Section 3A of the IT Act 2000. A few documents, such as wills and sale deeds for property, cannot be signed electronically.
How long does it take?
About 2 minutes per signer once the document is sent.
How do I check that a PDF was signed with Aadhaar?
Open it in Adobe Reader and look at the signature panel, or upload it to SignYu's free PDF signature verification tool.
More on the law, costs and providers in our Aadhaar eSign guide and how Aadhaar OTP signing works.
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